Armature assembly machine



NOV. 6, 1934. J F. CULLIN I 1,979,454

ARMATURE ASSEMBLY MACHINE Original Filed April 21. 1930 4 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTQR.

' ATTORNEYS.

NOV. 6, 1934. J CULLIN 1,979,454

ARMATURE ASSEMBLY MACHINE Original Filed April 21. 1950 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 r INIVE%TOR.

A TTORNEYS.

Nov. 6, 1934. J. F. CULLIN ARMATURE ASSEMBLY MACHINE Original Filed April 21. 1930 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR 7 $41..

ATTORNEYS No 6, 1934. J F ULUN 1,979,454

ARMATURE ASSEMBLY MACHINE Original Filed April 21. 1930 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR ATTORNEY Patented Nov. 6, 1934 UNITED STATES ARMATURE ASSEMBLY MAGH INEv Jasper F. Cullin, Detroit, Mich., assignor, by

mesne assignments, to General Motors Corporation, Detroit, Mich.,

ware

a corporation of Dela- Application April 21, 1930, Serial No. 445,868 Renewed November 19, 1932 35 Claims.

This invention relates to the manufacture of armatures having a core and coils assembled therewith, the leads of which are to be assembled with the bars of a commutator.

It is the main object of the present invention to provide a machine which performs such assembly operations that have heretofore been performed by hand.

This main object is accomplished by providing supporting means for an assembly consisting of armature core, armature coils assembled therewith and commutator having notched bars, means for guiding a coil lead into a commutator bar notch, and means for moving the coil lead into the notch.

Further objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from-the following description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings wherein a preferred embodiment of one form of the present invention is clearly shown.

In the drawings: 1

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a machine embodying the present invention, a. portion thereof being shown in section.

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the machine.

Fig. 3 is a front elevation of the machine.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged section view of a detail of the machine.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view showing a step in the operation of the machine.

Figs. 6 to 8 inclusive are fragmentary views of a certain part of the machine, illustrating successive steps of operation of the machine.

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary view of a detail of the machine.

Referring to the drawings, the" reference numeral 11 designates a base having an integral body portion which supports the various means and devices of the machine such as a worksupport A, coil lead guiding and inserting devices B and C, respectively, a worksupport indexing device D, and a device E for indicating a finished series of operations of the machine all of which shall now be detailedly described in the foregoing order.

L15 WorlcsupportA With particular reference to Figs. 1 and 4, the

12 is a clamping ring 28 having a plurality of I equi-angularly spaced cam-like notches 30 adapted to cooperate with pins 31 which are carried by the workholder for radial'movement relative thereto and cooperate with'asplit ring 33 located in an annular recess of the workholder. BY meansofa handle 32 theclamping ring may be "rotated in either direction and upon counter- Coil lead guiding and inserting devices B and C' As best shown in Figs. 1, 2, 3 and 5, an L- shaped bracket 51 is pivotally supported as at by the body portion 10 of base 11. Attached in any suitable manner to the leg 51a of bracket 51 is a guide plate 57 which is provided with an inclined surface 56 leading to a rectangular groove 56a which is in radial alignment with the commutator 23 and adapted to guide a coil lead 54into an aligned commutator bar notch 22. Bracket 51 is provided with a handle whereby to move said bracket into various positions; the position in which bracket 51 is shown in Fig. 1 being the active position in which guide plate 5'7 rests against the commutator 23; In various other positions of the'bracket 51, guide plate 57 is in a position remote fromthe commutator in order not to interfere with the indexing of the assembly to be described later or with the deposition of an assembly in workholder 12, the bracket being held in either one of these'various positions by a spring urged plunger 61 carried by said bracket and registering with any one of the notches 62 provided. by the :body portion 10 of base 11. When bracket 51 is in the mentioned active position, plunger 61 registers witha notch 62a also provided by the body portion 10 of base 11. i

Slidable on leg 51a of bracket 51 in adirection radially of the commutator is a bar 52 which is provided with a portion 53 and also carries a blade 59 as best shown in Figs. 6 to 8 inclusive. When the bracket 51 is in active position and upon movement of bar 52 towardthe commutator, the surface 53a of said bar portion 53 moves a coil lead 54 which is held by an operator against the inclined surface 56 of guide plate 57 over said inclined surface and into alignment with groove 56a. Blade 59 is so positioned on bar 52 that it is in alignment with groove 56a and trails behind the surface 530. of bar portion 53 so that upon continued movement of bar 52 toward the commutator, blade 59 engages and moves the coil lead throughgroove 56a and into an aligned commutator bar notch 22. As best shown in Figs. 5 to 8 inclusive, bar 52 also carries a spring urged plunger 59a the surface 5% of which is located intermediate blade 59 and surface 53a of bar portion 53. Consequently after the coil lead is brought into alignment with notch 56a and upon continued movement of bar 52 toward the commutator, the surface 59b of plunger 59ais clamping excessive length of the coil lead against a portion 57a of guide plate 57, which portion serves as a connecting yoke for the two guide plate portions defining groove 56cc.

The forcing of the aligned coil lead through groove 56a. and into a commutator bar notch 22 is not the sole function of blade 59, the latter is also provided with a shearing edge a which is adapted to cooperate with a shearing edge 5% of guide plate portion 57a in order to shear off excessive length of the coil lead which is clamped against said guide plate portion 5741 by plunger 59a. Therefore, when bracket, 51 is in active p.0- sition and upon movement of bar 52 toward the commutator,. a coil lead 54 is first moved over the inclined surface 56 into alignment with groove 56a by action of the bar portion 53, excessive length of the coil lead is then clamped against the guide plate portion 57a by plunger 59a as soon as the coil lead is in alignment with groove 56a, next the shearing edges 60a and57b of blade 59 and guide plate portion 57a, respectively, cooperate thereby shearing off the clamped excessive length of the coil lead, and finally the proper length of the aligned coil lead is forced through groove 56a into an aligned commutator bar notch 22 by blade 59.

Movement of bar 52 toward and away from the commutator is caused by power means to be described presently. Mounted on basev 11 is a continuously running electric. motor 40. By means of gears 41 and 42 of a certain ratio the driver of a one revolution clutch. 43. is continuously driven. This one: revolution clutch is mounted on. a. shaft 44 which itself is rotatably mounted in the body portion 10: of base 11 and carries at one end thereof cams 48. and 49 as best shown in Fig. 1.

Cam 48 projects into a recess 52b of bar 52 and upon rotation reciprocates said bar. Cam49 is adapted to engage an adjustable screw 63 in bracket 51 thereby moving the latter out of active position, said cam 49 being so timed with cam 48 that immediately upon'a withdrawal of bar 52 from the commutator, bracket 51 is raised so as not to interfere with a subsequent indexing operation. The one revolution clutch may be actuated by the operator by means of a foot pedal (not shown) and a link connection 45. Before the operator actuates the. foot pedal he takes hold of a coil lead and holds the same against the inclined surface 56, immediately thereafter he actuates the foot pedal whereby cam shaft 44 makes one complete revolution. During that one revolution bar 52 and the parts carried thereby perform their functions in the already mentioned order and thereafter cam 49 moves bracket 51 out of activev position.

Woricsupport indexing device D Referring more particularly to Figs. 1 and 3 there is shown a pawl 46. rotatably mounted on an eccentric portion 46a of cam shaft 44. This pawl cooperates with the teeth 14 of a ratchet disc 13 which is integral with bearing member 15. It is obvious that the number of teeth of said ratchet disc is equal to the number of notches in the bars of the commutator 23, so that upon indexing of the work support by said pawl consecutive commutator bar notches are brought into alignment with the groove 56a of guide plate 5'7. Pawl 46 is maintained in constant engagement with the ratchet teeth 14 by gravity as appears from Fig. 3. The cams 48 and 49 are so arranged with respect to the eccentric shaft portion 46a of shaft 44 that immediately after bracket 51 is raised by cam 49 and during the latter part of the one revolution of shaft 44, pawl 46 indexes the workholder.

The eccentricity of shaft portion 46a is furthermore such that during the coil lead inserting operation the pawl 46 recedes idly toward and beyond the consecutive ratchet tooth and by the time the pawl reverses its direction of movement and registers with said consecutive ratchet tooth in order to index the worksupport, bar 52 is well on its way away from the commutator 23. By that arrangement the continuously moving indexing pawl 46 never interferes with the insertion of a coil lead 54 into a commutator bar notch 22.

Device for indicating a finished series of operaations of the machine Referring more particularly to Figs. 1 and 2, there is provided a latch '71 which is provided with a hook '72 and an extension 75. Latch '71 carries a pin which is received by an oblong slot 78 provided by a bracket 78a which is attached. to base 11 in any suitable manner. Latch 71 is therefore bodily movable within the limits prescribed by the oblong slot 78. The surface 13a of ratchet disc 13 is provided with a notch '74 having a shoulder '73. When the hook 72 of latch 71 engages the shoulder '73 of notch 74 the machine is in a position for receiving an assembly. Connected with the clutch actuating link 45 is a rod 7'7 which carries a member 76 cooperating with the lever extension '75. As soon as the operator actuates the foot pedal for the first time after the deposition of an assembly in the workholder 12, member '76 by intermediation of rod 77 and link 45, rocks latch '71 clockwise as viewed in Fig. 1 whereby the hook 72 is withdrawn from shoulder '73 of notch '74 and the ratchet disc 13 is then free to rotate. Extending from the latch 71 is a pin 79 to which is attached one end of a tension spring 80 the other end of which is attached in any suitable manner to base 11. This spring 80 tends to rock lever '71 counterclockwise as viewed in Fig. 1 thereby maintaining the hook '72 of said lever in constant engagement with the i ratchet surface 13d and also tends to move latch 71 toward the base 11 as far as slot '78 permits. During the last indexing of the previous assembly the shoulder '73 of notch '74 moved the latch 71 into the position shown in Fig. 1, in which posifor the first time after the insertion of a new assembly into the worksupport 12, latch '71 is not only rocked out of engagement with shoulder 73 of notch 74, but is furthermore moved into normal bodily position, so that upon release of the foot pedal by the operator the hook 72 of the are latch cannot return into engagement with shoulder 73 but engages the disc surface 130/.. Such bodily movement of latch '71 is very desirable because in spite of the fact that upon tripping of the one revolution clutch an inserting operation takes place before the worksupport is indexed, the operator may immediately release the foot pedal without being afraid that hook 72 of latch '71 snaps back into engagement with shoulder '73 of notch 74 as can be readily understood. After coil leads have been inserted into all commutator bar notches 22, notch '74 moves again into registry with hook '72 of latch '71 whereby the latter is again moved from the normal bodily position into that shown in Fig. 1. In normal bodily position of latch 71, member '76 engages lever extension '75 only when rod '77 and link 45 are in a position in which to actuate the one revolution clutch. When the latch 71 is in the position shown in Fig. 1, the lever extension '75 engages member 76 when rod 77 and link 45 are in inoperative position;

therefore, when the operator after the insertion of a lead into the last commutator bar notch tries to actuate the foot pedal, he notices at once a resistance offered by the latch in the position of Fig. 1, indicating to him that coil leads have been inserted into all commutator bar notches and that the operation of the machine upon the present assembly is exhausted.

In order to locate a newly inserted assembly within the worksupport 12 in such manner that a commutator bar notch 22 is in proper alignment with the groove 56a of guide plate '7, a bell crank lever 20 is pivotally supported as at 18 by a boss 19 projecting from the body portion of base 11 as best shown in Figs. 2 and 3. This lever 20 has a cut away portion 20a'which is adapted to register with a commutator bar notch 22 prior to the manual clamping of the assembly to the workholder. Normally bell-crank lever 20 is maintained in the dot-and-dash position shown in Fig. 2 by a spring urged plunger 25 which is interposed between said bell-crank lever and the body portion 10 of base 11.

R-sume' of operation The operator first deposits an assembly in the workholder 12, then shifts bell-crank lever 20 toward the commutator 23, thereby rotating the assembly until a commutator bar notch registers with the cut away portion 200:. .of lever 20 whereby the notches of the commutator bars are properly positioned with respect to the workholder 12. While the cut away portion 20a. is held in registry with a commutator bar notch, the operator clamps the assembly to the workholder 12 in the earlier explained manner. Next the operator manually moves bracket 51 into the active position shown in Fig. 1, and then holds a coil lead 54 against the inclined surface 56 of guide plate 57. After all these preliminary operations have been performed by the operator he actuates the foot pedal thereby causing one complete revolution of the cam shaft 44. The already mentioned operations thereupon take place in the mentioned order. After the first complete revolution during which the bracket 51 has been moved out of active position by cam 49, the operator again moves said bracket into active position, holds the next coil lead against the inclined surface 56 of guide plate 57and then actuates the foot pedal to start a new inserting operation. These operations are repeated until all commutator bar notches have received a coil lead, of whichevent the operator is informed by the described latch mechanism. Theoperator thereupon removes the assembly from the workholder and deposits another assembly therein.

While, theform of embodiment of the present invention as herein disclosed, constitutes a preferred form, it is to be understood that other forms might be adopted, all coming within the scope of the claims which follow.

What is claimed is as follows:-

1. A machine for assembling armature coil leads with commutator bars comprising in coinbination, means for supporting an assembly of armature core, coils and commutator havin notched bars; reciprocable means for position ing an armature coil lead in alignment with a commutator bar notch; and reciprocable means for forcing the lead into the notch transversely of the core axis.

2. In a machine for inserting wires into the notches of a commutator, the combination of means provided with a groove for guiding a wire into a commutator notch; a linearly movable bar having a wire engaging surface; a wire guide having a surface merging into a wall of the groove for guiding the wire into the groove, the surfaces of the bar and wire guide being so related that movement ofv the bar toward the groove causes the wire to move into alignment with the groove; and means for moving the wire through the groove into the commutator notch.

3. In a machine for inserting wires into the notches of a commutator, the combination of a block having a groove which aligns with a commutator notch and a surface leading to said groove and forming an angle with the walls of the groove; a reciprocablebar, the surface of the bar adjacent the surface of the block forming such an angle with the latter surface that upon movement of the bar toward the block the wire on the surface of the block is moved into the groove thereof; and a blade carried by the bar for pushing the wire through the groove into the commutator notch.

4. In a machine for inserting wires into the notches of a commutator, the combination of means for guiding a wire through two different paths, the second path to be traversed last by the wire being formed by a groove which aligns with a commutator notch; and a movable bar having a portion for moving the wire through the first path and another portion for pushing the wire through the second path into the commutator notch.

5. In a machine for inserting wires into the notches of a commutator, the combination of a block having a beveled surface leading to a groove which aligns with a commutator notch; and a reciprocating bar, said bar having a portion for moving the wire upon the beveled surface into the groove of the block and a portion for pushing the wire through the groove in the block into the commutator notch.

6. In a machine for inserting wires into the notches of a commutator, the combination of block having a beveled surface leading to a groove which aligns with a commutator notch; a movable bar having a portion for moving the wire upon the beveled surface into the groove of the block; and a movable blade for pushing the wirefll through the groove in the block into the con" mutator notch.

7. In a machine for inserting wires into the notches of a commutator, the combination of a block having a wedge shaped groove terminating.

into a groove the walls of which are parallel and adapted to align with a commutator notch; a reciprocable bar having a portion for moving the wire resting on a wall of the wedge shaped groove of the block into the other groove thereof and another portion for pushing the wire through said other groove into the commutator notch.

8. In a machine for inserting wires into the notches of a commutator, the combination of a block having a groove which aligns with a commutator notch and a surface leading to said groove and forming an angle with the walls of the groove; a movable bar whose surface adja cent the block forms such an angle with the surface of the block that upon movement of the bar toward said block the wire on the surface of the block is moved into the groove thereof; and a movable blade for pushing the wire through the groove into the commutator notch.

9. In a machine for inserting wires into the notches of a commutator, the combination of means for supporting a commutator; a plate movable into engagement with the periphery of the commutator closest to an end surface thereof, said plate having a beveled surface leading to a groove which aligns with a commutator notch; a reciprocable bar having a surface for engaging the wire and causing the same to move over the beveled surface into the groove of the plate, said bar being so located relative to a supported commutator that it may move along the mentioned end surface of the commutator; and a blade carried by the bar, said blade having a surface adapted to engage the wire in the groove of the plate and push the same through said groove into the commutator notch.

10. A machine for assembling armature coil leads with commutator bars comprising in combination, means for supporting an assembly of armature core, coils and commutator having notched bars; means for positioning an armature coil lead in alignment with a commutator bar notch; and means for cutting off excessive length of the lead and for forcing the lead into the notch.

11. In a machine for inserting wires into the notches of a commutator, the combination of a reciprocating bar having a portion for aligning a wire with a notch, a portion for forcing said wire into the notch, and a portion for cutting off excessive length of said wire.

12. In a machine for inserting wires into the notches of a commutator, the combination of a reciprocating means to move a wire towards and thereby align it with a commutator notch, means to force said wire into said notch, and means to cut off excessive length of said wire.

13. In a machine for inserting wires into the notches of a commutator, the combination of a .bracket, and a bar mounted therein having a portion for aligning a wire with a notch, a portion for forcing said wire into a notch, and a portion for cutting on" excessive length of said wire.

14. In a machine for inserting wires into the notches of a commutator, the combination of a pivotally mounted bracket, and a bar mounted therein having a portion for aligning a wire with a notch, a portion for forcing said wire into a notch, and a portion for cutting 01f excessive length of said wire.

15. In a machine for inserting wires into the notches of a commutator, the combination of reciprocating means to align and insert a wire into a notch, means to index the commutator so as to align another commutator notch with said wire aligning and inserting means, and means torepeatedly partially rotate said commutator in order to successively present notches to said wire aligning and inserting means.

16. In a machine for inserting wires into the notches of a commutator, the combination of reciprocating means to align and insert a wire into a notch, and a shaft adapted to rotate one revolution for each wire insertion, said shaft including means to cause the reciprocation of said aligning and inserting means and means to repeatedly partially rotate said commutator to successively present notches to said wire aligning and inserting means.

17. In a machine for inserting wires into the notches of a commutator, the combination of means to insert a wire into a notch, and a shaft adapted to rotate one revolution for each wire insertion, said shaft including means to operate said wire inserting means, means to repeatedly partially rotate said commutator in order to successively present notches to said inserting means, and means to move said wire insertion means away from said commutator during rotative movement of the latter.

18. In a machine for inserting wires into the notches of a commutator, the combination of a pivotally mounted bracket; a block carried by said bracket for guiding the wire into a commutator notch; manually operable means for rocking the bracket; a holder movably carried by the bracket for moving the wire on the block into the commutator notch; a rotatable shaft; and a cam on said shaft adapted to cause one reciprocation of the bar during one revolution of the shaft.

19. A machine for assembling armature coil leads with commutator bars comprising in combination, means for supporting an assembly of armature core, coils and commutator having notched bars; reciprocable means for positioning an armature coil lead in alignment with a commutator bar notch; reciprocable means for forcing the lead into the notch; means for indexing the assembly in order to present successive commutator bar notches to the positioning means; and means actuated in timed relation with the indexing means for actuating all reciprocable means.

20. In a machine for inserting wires into the notches of a commutator, the combination of a workholder adapted to receive, clamp, locate and support an armature, a ratchet on said workholder, a pivotally mounted bracket and a bar movable in said bracket to insert a wire into a notch as the latter is presented, a rotating shaft having a pawl to engage said ratchet to rotate said workholder, and having a plurality of cams, one of which causes movement of the bracket, and the other of which causes movement of the bar in said bracket.

21. In a machine for inserting wires into the notches of a commutator, a combination of a workholder, means in said workholder to clamp, locate and support an armature, a ratchet on said workholder, a pivotally mounted bracket and a bar movable in said bracket to insert a wire into a notch as the latter is presented, a rotating shaft having a pawl to engage said ratchet to rotate said workholder, and having a plurality of cams,

notches of a commutator, the combination of a are.

pivotally mounted bracket; a block carried by said bracket for guiding the wire into a commu-' tator notch; manually operable means for rocking the bracket; means for yieldingly maintaining the bracket in a position remote from the commutator; a bar movably carried by the bracket for moving the wire on the block into the commutator notch; a rotatable shaft; means on said shaft adapted to cause one reciprocation of the bar during one revolution of the shaft; and other means on said shaft adapted to move the bracket away from the commutator during the same one revolution of the shaft thereby withdrawing the block from the commutator and indicating a finished wire inserting operation.

23. In a machine for inserting wires into the notches of a commutator, the combination of a pivotally mounted bracket; a block carried by said bracket for guiding the wire into a commutator notch; manually operable means for rocking the bracket; means for yieldingly maintaining the bracket in a position remote from the commutator; a bar movably carried by the bracket for moving the wire on the block into the commutator notch; a rotatable shaft; a cam on said shaft adapted to cause one reciprocation of the bar during one revolution of the shaft; and another cam on said shaft adapted to move the bracket away from the commutator during the same one revolution of the shaft thereby withdrawing the block from the commutator and indicating a finished wire inserting operation.

24. In a machine for inserting wires into the notches of a commutator, the combination of a rotatable workholder adapted to receive, clamp, locate and support an armature; a ratchet on said workholder; a pivotally mounted bracket and a bar movable in said bracket to insert a wire into a notch as the latter is presented; a shaft having an eccentrically mounted pawl thereon to engage said ratchet and index the workholder, and having a plurality of cams one of which causes one reciprocation of the bar and the other moves the bracket away from the commutator to indicate a finished wire inserting operation all during one revolution of said shaft; power driven means; a one revolution clutch for drivingly connecting the shaft with the power driven means; and manual means for actuating the one revolution clutch.

25; In a machine for inserting wires into the notches of a commutator, the combination of reciprocating means to align and insert a wire into a notch, means to index the commutator so as to align another notch thereof with said wire aligning and inserting means, means to repeatedly partially rotate said commutator to successively present notches to said wire aligning and inserting means, and means to prevent rotation of said commutator after a wire has been inserted into the last of said notches.

26. In a machine for inserting Wires into the notches of a commutator, the combination of means to bias, align and insert a wire into a notch, and a shaft adapted to rotate one revolution for each wire insertion, said shaft including means to operate said wire biasing, aligning and inserting means, means to repeatedly partially rotate said commutator to successively present notches to said inserting means, means to move said wire inserting means away from said commutator during rotative movement of the latter, and means to prevent rotation of said commutator after a wire has been inserted into the last notch.

27. In a machine for inserting wires into the notches of a commutator, the combination of a rotatable workholder adapted to receive, clamp, locate and support an armature; a ratchet on said workholder; a pivotally mounted bracket and a bar movable in said bracket to insert a wire into anotch as the latter is presented; a shaft having a pawl to engage said ratchet to index the workholder, and having a plurality of cams one of which causes one reciprocation of the bar and the other moves the bracket away from the commutator to indicate a finished wire inserting operation all during one revolution of said shaft; means for rotating the shaft; a shoulder on the ratchet; and a latch yieldingly urged against the ratchet and engaging the shoulder after a wire has been inserted into the last commutator notch thereby preventing further rotation of the workholder.

28. In a machine for inserting wires into the notches of a commutator, the combination of a rotatable workholder adapted to receive, clamp, locate and support an armature; aratchet on said workholder, said ratchet having ashoulder; a pivotally mounted bracket and a bar movable in said bracket to insert a wire into a notch as the latter is presented; a shaft having a pawl to engage said ratchet to index the workholder, and having a plurality of cams one of which causes one reciprocation of the bar and the other moves the bracket away from the commutator to indicate a finished wire inserting operation all during one revolution of said shaft; power driven means; a one revolution clutch for drivingly connecting the shaft with the power driven means; a latch yieldingly urged against the ratchet and engaging the shoulder thereof after a wire has been inserted into the last commutator notch thereby preventing further rotation of the workholder; and manual means for actuating the one revolution clutch and for withdrawing the latch from the shoulder.

29. A machine for assembling armature coil leads with commutator bars comprising in combination, means for supporting an assembly of armature core, coils and commutator having notched bars; means for positioning an armature coil lead in alignment with a commutator bar notch; means for cutting off excessive length of the lead and for forcing the lead into the notch; and means for indexing the assembly in order to present successive commutator bar notches to the positioning means.

30. A machine for assembling armature 0011 leads with commutator bars comprising in com bination, means for supporting an assembly of armature core, coils and commutator havin notched bars; reciprocable means for cutting off excessive length of the lead and for forcing the lead into the notch; means for indexing the assembly in order to present successive commutator bar notches to the positioning means; and means actuated in timed relation with the indexing means for actuating the reciprocable means.

31. In a machine for inserting wires into the notches of a commutator, the combination of a support for a commutator; a block for guiding the wire into a commutator notch a reciprocating bar for moving the wire on the block into the commutator notch; means carried by the bar and cooperating with the block for cutting off excessive length of the wire prior to the insertion thereof into the commutator notch; and means yieldingly carried by the bar for clamping the excessive length of wire to be cut off upon a portion of the block.

32. A machine for assembling armature coil leads with commutator bars comprising in combination, means for supporting an assembly of armature core, coils and commutator havin notched bars; means for positioning an armature coil lead in alignment with a commutator bar notch; means for cutting off excessive length of the lead and for forcing the lead into the notch; cans for indexing the assembly in order to present successive commutator bar notches to the positioning means; and means for preventing further indexing of the assembly after leads have been forced into all commutator bar notches.

33. A machine for assembling armature coil leads with commutator bars comprising in combination, means for supporting an assembly of armature core, coils and commutator having notched bars; reciprocable means for cutting oil excessive length of the lead and for forcing the lead into the notch; means for indexing the assembly in order to present successive commutator bar notches to the positioning means; means ac-- tuated in timed relation With the indexing means for actuating the reciprocable means; and means for preventing further indexing of the assembly after leads have been forced into all commutator bar notches.

34. A latch means comprising a bearing bracket having an elongated slot, a pivotally mounted hock member having a pin which is received in said elongated slot, 2, spring constantly tending to rock the hook member about its pin into engagement with the element to be held by said hook member, and also tending to cause said hook member to move relative to said elongated slot in a certain direction, and means to move said hook member in opposition to said spring.

35. A latch means comprising a bearing bracket having an elongated slot, a pivotally mounted hook member having a pin which is received in said elongated slot, means to rotate said hook member in one direction, and means to rotate said hook member in the opposite direction, one of said means tending to move said hook member relative to said elongated slot in a certain direction.

JASPER F. CULLIN. 

